Punchless Hawks Fall To Red Wings

So much for that theory. Yzerman, the National Hockey League`s third-leading scorer, went pointless against the Blackhawks Wednesday night in Game 1 of this Norris Division semifinal series.

But the line of Petr Klima, Dave Barr and Adam Oates scored all the Wings` goals in a 3-2 victory. It was the Hawks` 10th straight road playoff loss, and the team is 1-14 in its last 15 Stanley Cup games.

``We didn`t have enough second and third efforts,`` coach Mike Keenan said. ``We didn`t generate enough offense by good forechecking and going to the net. It wasn`t a good effort.``

The Hawks were limited to seven shots in each of the last two periods. They had only nine in the first period, during which Detroit grabbed a 2-0 lead.

``They played a disciplined style after they got ahead,`` defenseman Doug Wilson said, ``and we had more opportunities to score than we had shots, especially in the first period. You`re not going to get the pretty goals in the playoffs. We have to get more shots off rebounds.``

Wayne Presley noted that goalie Greg Stefan was giving up the rebounds.

``But we weren`t making the second and third effort to get there,`` he said. ``Detroit was clearing them away.``

Denis Savard made the game interesting by knocking the puck away from Doug Houda and then Lee Norwood and scoring on a breakaway with 10 1/2 minutes left in the third period. However, that was the Hawks` first shot in the period, and they had too few quality chances after that.

There were expectations of a more physical battle than the one that 19,569 witnessed. Just five minor penalties were whistled by referee Paul Stewart, who gave the Hawks two power plays and the Wings one. Not one fight broke out.

``We didn`t finish our checks as well as we should,`` Keenan said. ``We have to be more assertive, more intense.``

The Hawks scored on the game`s first power play with 8 minutes remaining in the second period. Adam Creighton`s goal in his first playoff game reduced Detroit`s lead to 2-1.

But Barr`s second goal of the game with 3:40 left until the second intermission regained the important two-goal edge for the Wings, and they carried the 3-1 lead into the third period against goalie Alain Chevrier, who played a solid game. He made 27 saves, a few spectacular.

The play that led to Barr`s second goal developed after defenseman Dave Manson was unable to carry the puck out of the Hawk zone. Manson had the puck poked away from him and into Detroit`s possession.

Actually, letdowns by three defensemen contributed to all the Detroit goals.

``We played 80 percent better than we had the last two weeks of the season,`` Wings coach Jacques Demers said. ``We said the playoffs would be different for us, and we checked the way you have to check.``

Klima woke up the crowd with an aggressive play that led to the game`s first goal with 4:45 to go in the first period. Barr, with assists from Klima and Oates, pushed the Wings ahead 2-0 with 1:51.

Klima came rushing in to steal the puck off Creighton`s stick high in the Hawk zone. As Klima swerved around defenseman Trent Yawney on the right wing, he unleashed a shot at Chevrier. Chevrier made the first stop, but Klima poked the puck again and it deflected off Manson and caromed into the net.

Klima scored six goals in six regular-season games against the Hawks. The little winger`s quickness has been difficult for them to handle.

``They checked Stevie`s line, so we had to have some offense,`` Klima said.

On Barr`s first goal, he got the puck at mid-ice and quickly accelerated down the left wing. He was too quick for back-pedaling defenseman Bob McGill, who tried to stop him from behind as he approached the net, diving to the ice and extending his stick. Barr wasn`t denied.

``Thursday night`s game here is important,`` Klima said of Game 2.

``Chicago just wants to win one game here.``

Added Demers: ``Mike Keenan`s a good coach, and he`ll adjust. We expected a more physical game, and maybe that`s what it will be Thursday.``